BS 5930 provides little guidance on the specification, practice and interpretation of pressuremeter, flat dilatometer and cone penetration tests. This paper describes certain key elements in the successful use of such tests which are frequently overlooked in practice. The different types of pressuremeter available in the United Kingdom are reviewed and the importance of care in the installation of pressuremeters of all types is highlighted. The principles of operation of the flat dilatometer are presented and comments made on the interpretation and application of results. Cone penetrometer testing and the types of equipment available are also discussed. The necessity for frequent and thorough calibration of all testing devices is emphasised and requirements for data presentation and reporting of these in situ tests are indicated.

The art and science of Geotechnical Engineering involves the assimilation of large quantities of data from different sources and the exercise of judgment to achieve appropriate engineering solutions. The availability of low cost portable microcomputers affords an opportunity to improve the efficiency and quality of data assimilation, allowing the geotechnical specialists to concentrate on applying their skills and judgment to the engineering problem in hand. This paper describes the advantages and difficulties of that approach in commercial practice with particular reference to software for the preparation of borehole logs.

Summary Four field applications of microcomputers are described: (i) a microcomputer system has been developed which allows inclinometer readings to be processed and plotted; (ii) system to monitor and analyse pressuremeter tests uses a microcomputer-based ‘autonomous data acquisition unit’ to log the data, which are simultaneously manipulated, and the results displayed on the graphics screen of a separate microcomputer without interfering with the data logging; (iii) seismic signals are logged by a microcomputer, on which the data can subsequently be processed; (iv) a data logging system has been developed for use with the CSIRO cell to carry out in situ measurements of rock stresses, with an on-site microcomputer plotting and analysing the strain measurements to give the complete stress tensor immediately following overcoring. By using microcomputers not only to collect but also to analyse data in the field, a programme of field tests and also the conduct of individual tests can be improved.